Last Lap: Beloved Swampscott Run Club to Bid Farewell with One Final Toast

The running club enjoys Viva Tequila Seltzer after its jaunts || Monica Sager

It’s the end of the road for Swampscott’s running club, but they’re finishing strong and in stride.

Founded by Swampscott native Vinny Palmer, the group quickly hit its stride as a way for locals to bond over their shared love of running. After a summer spent pounding pavement and building community one step at a time, the group will lace up for its final run on Wednesday, July 16, at 7 p.m., as Palmer prepares to move.

“We’ve got a good crew,” Palmer said. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s a midweek reset, I like to call it. We’ve been fortunate that it’s been beautiful ever since we’ve started.”

The club has met weekly at Dockside Pub, at 286 Humphrey St.

“There’s an outdoor bar,” Palmer said. “It works great.”

The running club originally began in Tampa Bay, Florida, in partnership with Viva Tequila Seltzer. After returning to Swampscott, Palmer brought the club to his stomping grounds.

Vinny Palmer sits with friends before the run || Monica Sager

“I grew up in this town,” Palmer said. “I love this town so much, and I just wanted to do things to bring the community together.”

And that mentality has gotten runners to return each week.

“The leader created such a great vibe,” said Troy Levine. “It just brings such a great sense of community to Swampscott and Dockside.”

Kailin Alex got back into running, and Viva Tequila Seltzer helped make the leap to continue at it.

“This kind of motivated me to get back into it,” Alex said. “It’s fun.”

The running club crosses the street at Dockside Pub to start their run || Monica Sager

Others, like Israel Tormes, signed up for a marathon in October so the club makes their daily training a bit more fun.

Each week, around 20 runners gather for an almost two-and-a-half-mile run, followed by a complimentary Viva Tequila Seltzer tasting.

“Everyone gets to try every single flavor,” Palmer said. “I give the backstory on every single flavor. It’s just a really good time.”

Runners get to try a variety of Viva Tequila Seltzer flavors, including jalapeño || Monica Sager

Viva Tequila Seltzer comes in a variety of flavors, including watermelon, elderberry, huckleberry, jalapeño, coconut, limoncello and grapefruit. Runners get to try each flavor, and Palmer said there might even be an additional surprise for the last running club meetup.

“It’s 88 calories, zero carbs, zero sugar, so light and refreshing,” Palmer said. “It’s fun.”